Dumping apparatus



May 15, 1923.

G. A. CURLEE DUMPING APPARATUS Filed Nov. 2, 1922 1 INVENTOR. Z

@ew geA/zde r-Jmz Curiae Patented May 15, 1923.

GEORGE A. CURLEE, OF CHILDRESS, TEXAS.

DUMPING APPARATUS.

Application filed November 2, 1922.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, GEORGE ANDERSON CUnLE-E, a citizen of the United States, residing at Childress, in the county of Childress and, State of Texas, have invented a new and useful Dumping Apparatus, of which the following is a specification.

This inventionrelates to a dumping apparatus, designed primarily for use for the filling of graves, but it is to be understood that an apparatus in accordance with this invention can be employed for any purpose wherein it is found applicable, and the invention has for its object to provide in a manner as hereinafter set forth, an apparatus of such class with means for expeditiously and completely filling a grave after the casket has been lowered therein.

A further object of the invention is to provide in a manner as hereinafter set forth, an apparatus for the purpose referred to having means to provide for its use in connection with graves of different lengths.

Further objects of the invention are to provide an apparatus for the purpose set forth which is extremely simple in its construction and arrangement, strong, durable, compact, thoroughly efficient in its use, conveniently operated, readily assembled and comparatively inexpensive.

l/Vith the foregoing and other objects in view, the invention consists of the novel construction, combination and arrangement of parts as hereinafter more specifically described and illustrated in the accompanying drawings, wherein is shown an embodiment of the invention, but it is to be understood that changes, variations and modifications can be resorted to which come within the scope of the claims hereunto appended.

In the drawings wherein like reference characters denote corresponding parts throughout the several views Figure 1 is a side elevation of a dumping apparatus in accordance with this inven tion, showing the same in position for dumping.

Figure 2 is an end view thereof.

Figure 3 is a section on line 33, Figure 2.

Figure 4- is a section on line 1- 1, Figure 3.

Figure 5 is a view of the dumping bottom.

An apparatus in accordance with this invention includes a pair of portable track members indicated at 1 and 2, and which Serial No. 598,666.

are connected together by spacing rods 3. The track members 1, 2, are arranged in spaced relation with respect to each other, so that when the apparatus is employed for filling a grave, the track members 1, 2, will be positioned one at each side of the grave. The track members 1, 2, are of greater length than the length of the grave and which will enable the hopper element of the apparatus to be moved over the grave after the casket has been lowered. Each of the track members 1, 2, may be formed of a plurality of sections, as shown two sections of a desired length, but it is obvious that the number of sections can be increased if desired. Each of the track members 1, 2, is formed with a vertically disposed retaining flange 4.

The hopper element of the apparatus which is shiftable on the track members 1, 2, consists of a front wall 5, a rear wall 6, and a pair of end walls 7, 8, which are of greater height than the front and rear walls 5, 6. The end walls 7, 8, are so set up with respect to the front and rear walls 5, 6, that the said end walls 7 and 8 will depend below the front and rear walls 5 and 6. The end walls 7 and 8 are fixedly secured to the front and rear walls 5, 6, and as shown through the medium of angle irons 9 and hold-fast devices 10. The end wall 7, as well as the end wall 8, has its lower terminus formed with an outwardly extending flange 11, mounted on and secured to a bar 12 disposed transversely with respect to the track formed by the track members 1, 2. The flanges 11 are secured to the bars 12 by the hold-fast devices 13. Depending from each of the bars 12, near each end thereof is a bracket 14, carrying a roller 15 which travels on a track member and by this construction, the hopper can be shifted to any desired point on the track formed by the track members 1, 2. The flanges 4 retain the rollers 15 in position on the track members 1, 2. The hopper element is rectangular in plan and has arranged between the walls 5 and 6, near the lower portion thereof, a rectangular dumping bottom or gate 16, which has secured therewith by the transversely eX- tendino; reinforcing strips 17, a rock shaft 18. The strips 17 are arranged above and below the dumping bottom 16 and are fixedly secured in position by the hold-fast devices 19. The shaft 18 projects from each end of the dumping bottom 16 and one of the projecting ends of the shaft 18 is inclicated at 20 and the other'at 21. The projecting end 20 of the shaft 18 is j ournaled in the end wall 8 and the projecting end 21 of the shaft 18 is journaled in the end wall 7. The projecting end 21 of the shaft 18 terminates in a crank or handle 22. Fixed to the projecting ends 20, 21 of the shaft 18, in close proximity to each end of the dumping botto1n16, is a circular disk 23, which is overlapped by and spaced from an annular protecting member orcasing 2-1. One of the protecting members or casings 2,4: is secured by the hold-fast device 25 to the inner face of the end wall. 7, and ithe other of said members or casings is fixedly secured to the inner face of the end wall 8 by the hold-fast devices 26. The members 2a, arearranged .above the dumpingbottom 16 and the disks '23 act toprevent the dirt from choking at the ends of the hopper when the dumping' bottom 16 is tilted to discharge the contents ofthe hopper and they further act as means to prevent any possibility of the'dirt clogging or choking up the ends of the bottom 16 when the latter is shifted to closed position.

The projecting end 21 of the shaft 18, is provided with a ratchet 27 arranged exteriorly of the end wall 7 and which cooperates therewith a pivoted dog 28 for the purpose of locking the shaft-18 from movement or in other words to maintain the shaft 18 locked and thecrank or handle 22 in the position shown in Figure 2. When the dog .28 is shifted clear of the rachet 27, the shaft 18 can be rocked to dump the bottom 16.

Thefront wall 5, aswell as the rear wall 6, has secured to its inner face a pair of elongated plates 29, 30, each provided with a pair of combined guide and retaining ribs 31 spaced fromeach other. Hold-fast de- I vices 32 are employed for securing the plates to the front and rear walls 5, 6. The plate 29 of the front wall 5 opposes the plate 29 of the rear wall 6,and the plate 30 0f the front wall 5 opposes the plate 30'of the rear Wall 6. The plates 29 or the plates 30 are the grave and at this point the hopper (318-.

ment is shifted over the grave, the handle released so that the bottom 16 can be shifted to dumping position and they contents of the hopper element are then discharged into the grave completely filling the same. 3

vFrom the foregoing description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, a dumping apparatus isset up which provides for expeditiously and completely filling graves of different lengths, and although the preferred embodiment is as shown and described, yet it is to be understood that changes in the details of construction can be had without departing'from the spirit of the invention as claimed.

What I claim is 1. An apparatus for the purpose set forth comprising a portable earth carrier'in the form of a hopper element provided with a dumping bottom, a releasable means for actuating said bottom, disks carried by said means and arranged at each end of said bottom, and a protective element for each of said disks. j

2. An apparatus for the purpose set forth comprising a portable earth carrier in the form of a hopper element provided with a dumping bottom, a releasable means for ac tuating said bottom, disks carried by said means and arranged at each end of said bottom a protective element foreach of said disks, and adjustable means for varying the carrying capacity of said ho per element.

GEORGE CURLEE. 

